AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 3 - Cyclic Control Stick Assembly

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2014L00699 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Explanatory Statement

 

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998

 

AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 3 — Cyclic Control Stick Assembly

 

Under section 98 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988 (the Act), the Governor-General may make regulations for the Act and in the interests of the safety of air navigation. Under regulation 39.001 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998), CASA may issue an airworthiness directive (AD) for a kind of aircraft or aeronautical product. Under subsections 98 (5B) and (5BA) of the Act, an AD is a legislative instrument unless it is expressed to apply in relation to a particular person, a particular aircraft or a particular aeronautical product. Therefore, this AD is a legislative instrument.

 

Under subsection 33 (3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, where an Act confers a power to make, grant or issue any instrument of a legislative or administrative character (including rules, regulations or by-laws), the power shall be construed as including a power exercisable in the like manner and subject to the like conditions (if any) to repeal, rescind, revoke, amend, or vary any such instrument.

 

Under Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the State of Design has overall responsibility for continuing airworthiness of an aircraft type, and must provide any information necessary to ensure the continuing airworthiness of a type to appropriate States of Registry. ADs (and their equivalents) are the most common form of continuing airworthiness information, and are issued by most International Civil Aviation Organization Contracting States.

 

The State of Registry of an individual aircraft is responsible for its continuing airworthiness. Under Annex 8, the State of Registry must develop or adopt requirements to ensure the continuing airworthiness of aircraft.

 

CASA raised AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 2 to correct an unsafe situation on Bell 206 series helicopters in 1986. AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 2 was issued to mandate inspections of Cyclic Control Stick Assemblies in accordance with Bell Helicopter Service Bulletins 206-85-29, 206L-85-36 and 206-169. The State of Design for this type, the United States of America, has not yet taken action to correct this unsafe condition. As there are many examples of the type on the Australian register, CASA has developed an AD to correct the problem on Australian aircraft. As a result of a request from industry, CASA has issued AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 3 to clarify the applicability section of the AD. This AD repeals and replaces the previous AD on this subject.

 

Consultation

This AD is being made at the request of industry, in particular an operator of the Bell 206 series helicopters. As this AD amendment is of a minor or machinery nature and does not substantially alter existing arrangements apart from clarifying the applicability section of the AD, it is CASA’s view that it was not necessary or appropriate to undertake any further consultation under section 17 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

 

Regulation Impact Statement

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) is not required because ADs are covered by a standing agreement between CASA and the Office of Best Practice Regulation under which a RIS is not required for ADs.

 

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment 1.

 

Making and commencement

The instrument has been made by a delegate of CASA relying on the power of delegation under subregulation 11.260 (1) of CASR 1998 and subsection 94 (1) of the Act.

 

The instrument commences on 15 June 2014.

 

 

 

[Instrument number AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 3]

Attachment 1

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the
Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 3 – Cyclic Control Stick Assembly

 

This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Overview of the legislative instrument

CASA issued AD AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 2 affecting Bell 206 series helicopters in 1986. The State of Design for this type, The United States of America, has not yet taken action to correct this unsafe condition. As there are many examples of the type on the Australian register, CASA has developed an AD to correct the problem on Australian aircraft. As a result of a request from industry, CASA has repealed and replaced AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 2 to clarify the applicability section of the AD.

 

The primary purpose of this legislative instrument is to clarify the applicability section of the existing AD.

 

Human rights implications

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

 

Conclusion

This legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

 

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 were enacted to ensure the safety of air navigation in Australia, providing a framework under which the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) can issue airworthiness directives (ADs). This legislation allows CASA to mandate safety measures and inspections for specific aircraft types, including the Bell 206 series helicopters, in response to identified unsafe conditions. AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 3, introduced in 2014, is an amendment to a previous AD issued in 1986, aimed at clarifying the applicability of the AD to these helicopters. This amendment was made in response to requests from industry to address an ongoing unsafe condition that had not been rectified by the State of Design, the United States of America. The policy objective of this amendment is to ensure the continuing airworthiness of Bell 206 series helicopters registered in Australia by providing clear guidance on the inspections required, thereby maintaining safety standards in line with international conventions.

Scope and Application

The AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 3, issued under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR 1998) and the Civil Aviation Act 1988, applies to Bell 206 series helicopters registered in Australia. This amendment is a legislative instrument designed to clarify the applicability of the airworthiness directive concerning the Cyclic Control Stick Assembly, which was initially addressed by AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 2. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued this directive in response to an unsafe condition that the United States of America, the State of Design, has yet to rectify. Given the prevalence of these helicopters in Australia, CASA has taken it upon itself to ensure the safety of these aircraft through this directive. This AD applies nationally within Australia and is not limited to any specific person, aircraft, or aeronautical product unless explicitly stated. The AD can be amended, repealed, or varied under the same regulatory framework that established it, ensuring flexibility in addressing ongoing safety concerns. The amendment does not require further consultation under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 as it is considered minor and does not substantially alter existing arrangements. The AD is compatible with human rights as it does not engage any applicable rights or freedoms as per the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 3 pertain to the cyclic control stick assembly of Bell 206 series helicopters (section 1). This amendment repeals and replaces the previous AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 2 to clarify the applicability section of the AD, specifically in response to a request from the aviation industry (section 2). This amendment ensures that the AD applies correctly to the affected aircraft in Australia. The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act on the parties or entities it governs include ensuring the continuing airworthiness of the Bell 206 series helicopters, particularly in relation to the cyclic control stick assembly. Operators of these helicopters must comply with the AD by conducting inspections as mandated by Bell Helicopter Service Bulletins 206-85-29, 206L-85-36, and 206-169 (section 3). Compliance with these requirements is essential for maintaining the safety standards set forth by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Any breach of the provisions outlined in AD/BELL 206/99 Amdt 3 could result in significant consequences. Non-compliance with the airworthiness directives can lead to the grounding of the aircraft until the required inspections and repairs are completed. Additionally, operators found to be in violation of these regulations may face penalties, including fines and potential legal action. The severity of the penalties can vary depending on the nature and extent of the breach, with maximum penalties determined by the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998. It is imperative for all stakeholders to adhere to these regulations to ensure the safety and airworthiness of the aircraft.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Civil Aviation Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Repeal & Amendment
Consultation Requirements

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.